From the Islands

Chapter 2

"Kika," I hear Lani's voice but I keep my eyes shut. "Kika!" She says again this time louder. My eyes peel open and a loud splash wets my face. "Lani! What are you doing!" I sit up right on the smooth rock. I hear the other mermaids laughter echoing. "Kika! Youre never gonna believe it! A ship is headed 'dis way!" I just stare at her. She is excited but she knows how I feel about this. I roll on my side, away from her. "Oh Kika, you know we have to keep 'dem humans out of our waters," Lani says. "By putting them into a trance they have no control over?" I say, it almost comes out as a mumble. "I told you, she a human lover!" One of the mermaids says. Lani swims over to the side I am facing. She looks in my eyes. "How's about we lead 'dem away. We won't take it as far as we usually do." Lani suggests. The same mermaid shouts, "You mean we won't kill them?" "Hush Yumi!" Lani's accent is heavy. She means it, "Kika we really could use you. You know your voice is much stronger 'den ours." I just keep my eyes on her. She almost has me convinced, my voice is the strongest. I sit back up, and scan the water it looks darker today. "What do ya say Kika," she is smiling. I nod slowly at her,"Just leading them away?" She smiles bigger, "Just leadin' 'dem away." "Okay," I say, "I will go." Lani lets out a squeal and drags me under the water with her. Its been a very long time since I've gone with them. There's a feeling inside of me, I had to say yes.

          We swim to the shore and begin our regular routine. Theres not a lot of people out today. The sun keeps hiding behind gray clouds. I go back under the water and search for more mussels, its a little dim. I look over at Lani as she swims towards me. There's not much to catch today. I nod at her and show her the small bag thats wrapped around my body. Its not full but it should be enough, I tell her. Lani shrugs and we begin to head back to our cave. Just as we are about to enter open water something catches my eye. There is something underneath the sand. I immediatley swim towards it, it has a handle and a blade, this is a knife. Lani is watching from a distance. I wave the knife back and forth at her. She squints at me and heads downward toward me. What is that. I point the blade downward just like the man I met told me to. Lani swims closer, Let me see that. She reaches for the sharp end of the knife i move it away but its too late there is blood floating in between us. A short cut runs long ways on the tip of Lani's finger. Lani I am sorry. She shakes her head with a small smile. She begins to swim away and I follow behind her. I put the knife in my bag it mixes in with the mussels. We are almost to the cave I can see it even though the water is still gloomy. We swim underneath the giant rock and squeeze through the small tunnel, leading into the cave. We poke our heads out of the water the others are waiting for us. "Finally you two are back!" One of them says. I lift the bag onto the rocky surface. The bag is empty. The knife has cut a hole into the bag and it's hanging out the bottom. I can feel their eyes on me. I look up at Lani, she's disappointed. "Is 'dis some kinda joke," Yumi complains. "What's that hangin' from 'de sack," Raeli says. I pull the knife out and set it down softly on the rock. "It, it must have cut through the bag I'm sorry," I feel even more ashamed. I cut Lani's finger and now we have nothing to eat. I shake my head and look down. "Everybody jus' calm down," Lani says, "We will hunt more food in 'de morning." The others don't seem nearly as irritated as Raeli and Yumi. I lift myself on top of the rock. I hold the knife gently in my hand. "This is a knife, the humans use it for hunting." Yumi scoffs, " 'Der she go again about 'dem damn humans." I ignore her, this could really help us. "We could catch more fish or crabs. We just need to be careful not to harm eachother with it. It's very sharp, any cut large enough you'll be swarmed with sharks in a matter of minutes." Everyone is quiet, they are staring at the object in my hand. Even Lani is looking down, they're so fascinated. Is this how I looked when I learned about a knife? "So what you're sayin' is you gonna hunt us some crabs tomorrow?" Yumi exclaims. The other mermaids laugh, I have a half smile on my face. The cave echoes with our voices, but the sound is disruptend. We all look up at the skylight. The sky is pink, the ship must be close. Lani and I look at eachother I squish my lips together, there's a feeling in my stomach.

     I'm the last to exit the cave, I can see the ship in the distance. The waters are still dark, much darker than before. Raeli, Yumi guide the boat from the front and direct them the other way. Sanaa, Valeria, Charo, Suri. You four take the sides of the ship. Lani looks at me as I watch the others swim ahead. You and I will guide the back of the ship. Lani has them all in perfect sync. We swim faster to catch up to the others. The song is beautiful, the water begins to light up. The boat is already beginning to turn around. I haven't sang in a long time, it feels good to let my voice warm up. Now the boat is completely turned around. We just need to get it around the giant rock that's blocking our way. We are very close to the rock, and my voice is being over powered by Yumi's. Something is not right, Lani stops singing. We keep getting closer and closer. Yumi! Stop your takin' it too far! Lani's voice is concerned she swims away from me. Everyone has stopped singing the water is still radiant. Suri and Valeria swim out of the way just as the boat crashes into the rock. I hear a splash, a body has hit the water. I am stuck, another man jumps in, then another. They continue to fall into the water. I am helpless as I watch them to swim to the bottom of the ocean. Lani swims back towards me with Yumi and Raeli just ahead of her. Yumi and I catch eyes, she knows exactly what she has done. The light begins to fade out as derbis fills the water. The spell should be wearing off soon, and it will be too late for the men to swim back up. Sanaa is swimmimg towards me she reaches her hand out. Kika we have to go now. She grabs my arm and pulls me away. I can't stop looking back. That's it, we cause a shipwreck and swim away as if nothing has happened. We get to keep living and they have to die. I knew I should have stayed behind.